A volunteer clears gorse from around Ullswater. Photo: Ian Rollins

More than 200 volunteers took part in a Lake District clean-up event dubbed the ‘Conservation Glastonbury’ by organisers.

The third Fell Care Day took place around Ullswater, with 210 people from 19 organisations devoting their time to activities around the lake and on the surrounding fells.

Among activities during the event was a canoe-based litter pick which pulled nine bags of rubbish including a broken gazebo and a sunken canoe from the lake.

Other tasks included rebuilding 12m of drystone wall on Glenridding Dodd; clearing drains to prevent erosion on 24.5km paths around the lake and up to Lanty’s Tarn and Red Tarn, Helvellyn; 100m of gorse and Himalayan balsam cleared from Greenside; 40m of footpath rebuilt at Aira Force and 28 bags of rubbish cleared from around the lake shore.

Schoolchildren from Patterdale and Penruddock built a red squirrel hide from willow; learned about water and conservation; coppiced woodland and planted 1,000 native daffodil bulbs in the Glade, a popular beauty spot by Aira Force waterfalls.

They also made 30 new bird boxes and 10 bat boxes to be used to encourage roosting birds and bats around the area.

The landscape conservation charity Friends of the Lake District organised the Fell Care Day to highlight the role volunteering plays in conserving and managing the fells, and how the land is managed for providing drinking water and to help control flooding.

The event is run by the Flora of the Fells Project. Manager Sue Manson said: ‘The Fell Care Day was awesome: a conservation Glastonbury with so many individuals, groups and organisations contributing their time so freely.

Volunteers repair a path near Aria Force

“The volunteer army achieved so much in one day they really felt they’d put something back into caring for the Ullswater valley. Our Flora of the Fells Project runs the Fell Care Days to inspire different organisations and people to combine their skills to look after the Lake District fells.”

The charity is also running another Fell Care Day at Windermere on Thursday 25 October. For more information or to volunteer contact Sue Manson on 01539 733187 or email her.